Nutrition and Hydration Week: supporting mental wellbeing in Islington
At Healthwatch Islington, we work with local partners and residents to understand what supports people’s wellbeing in practice. Recently, two of our Mental Health Partnerships Team, Philippa and Kay, have been involved in two projects that focus on this: Move for Mood and Food for Mood.
Both take a simple approach. Small, practical changes can make a difference.
Move for Mood
Philippa is part of Move for Mood, an initiative from Islington Council that encourages people to try physical activity in a way that boosts mental wellbeing.
Move for Mood promotes taster sessions such as dance, boxing, and other group activities. The focus is not just on exercise, but on enjoyment and connection. Being active can support your mood, and taking part in local activities can help people feel more connected to their community.
You can find out more about local activities here:
Physical activity and wellbeing in Islington
You can also explore activities in local parks and community spaces:
Food for Mood
Kay delivered three Food for Mood sessions with the Recovery College. These sessions focused on the link between food and mood, and how small changes to what we eat and drink can support wellbeing.
The sessions included discussion around the Eatwell Guide, with a focus on different cultures and food traditions. This helped make the information more relevant to people’s everyday lives.
“[Food for Mood] has made me more mindful of what and how I eat. I take time to plan and prepare my food, I have tried interesting new recipes, so cooking is not as boring as before... I have used the Eatwell plate as a guide to improving my diet.”
Participants also shared practical tips that can make a difference over time, such as:
- using herbs and spices like mint, basil, rosemary and ginger instead of adding more salt
- drinking more water or herbal teas and reducing sugary drinks and caffeine
- paying more attention to how and when they eat
The sessions also introduced mindful eating, which means slowing down and paying attention to your food, including how it tastes and how it makes you feel.
We also discussed how a balanced diet supports overall health, including mental wellbeing.
Why this matters
Whether that is trying a new activity, making small changes to your diet, or connecting with others locally, these steps can help people feel more in control of their mental health.
We are pleased to see this work happening in Islington and to support projects that make wellbeing feel accessible and realistic.
